 |
Total PV
installed capacity forecast in GW by Country (top 10) in 2015 and projections
for 2020
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New global solar capacity
will continue to grow this year, after lower costs drove it to record levels in
2016, and could surpass 80 gigawatts (GW), Europe's solar industry forecast on
Tuesday.
Reuters
report continues:
Solar
photovoltaic (PV) module prices have fallen 80% since 2009 as capacity
has risen and technologies improved.
And
a record 76.6 GW of new solar capacity was installed and connected to the grid
last year, 50% up on 2015, solar power association SolarPower Europe
said in a report.
"There
is a good chance that the market could even pass the 80 GW mark in 2017,"
James Watson, chief executive of SolarPower Europe, said in the report, which
concluded that global capacity growth this year will mostly depend on China.
China
connected 34.5 GW of solar to the grid last year, representing nearly half of
the world's new capacity and 128% more than in 2015.
Although
many experts say Chinese solar installations could slow this year, China has
already commissioned 7.2 GW in the first quarter, slightly higher than what was
installed in the first quarter of last year, the report said.
"With
further support mechanisms available....there is quite some upside potential in
the world's largest market this year beyond the 29 GW anticipated in our medium
scenario," it added.
Installed
solar photovoltaic capacity increased by a third to 306.5 GW by the end of last
year, up from 229.9 GW in 2015.
That could increase to 400 GW in 2018, 500 GW in 2019, 600 GW in 2020 and 700 GW in 2021, the report said.
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